Lumina Academy: Light and Shadow (Realm Series #1)

Chapter 28: Her Soon And Future

Chapter 28: Her Soon And Future
 
Two days since the ranking happened a letter came to our room telling us that Gen and I are the new members of Alphas. We will officially introduce tomorrow as the new member of Alphas—a celebration for the success of ranking. Other realms’ who visited our realm are already went back to their realm at sayang lang dahil hindi ko naabutan si Cressa at Ate Tale para sana makapag-paalam.
 
Ngayon ay naglalakad ako papunta sa office ni Mimi dahil itatanong ko sa kaniya kung kailangan ba talagang lumipat sa dorm ng Alphas kung pwede naman kami sa dorm namin. Nabanggit kasi ni Gen ang bagay na ‘yon and I was being hesitant. Hindi ko alam pero, parang ayaw ko munang mapalapit sa mga pinsan ko dahil sa mga nalaman ko.
 
I know that they hate my mother for what happened in the past and I’m sad to know about that. Ang akala ko pa naman, ayos ang lahat ng dumating kami dito pero hindi pala. Nagkakamali pala ako. When I learned that my mother was the reason why their sister—the princess is not by their side, hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. I’m hurting for my mother because even though they won’t tell me, I can see in their eyes that they are mad at her… even hated her.
 
That’s why I understand why Tita Emerald said those kinds of words to me…
 
But as like what my mother said, I should not get associated with them. Hindi ko dapat ipagpipilitan ang sarili ko sa mga taong—mga imortal na hindi naman ako gustong maging parte ng kanilang buhay. It will only hurt me and Mimi don’t like that to happen kaya naman pumayag akong iiwasan ko na lamang sila. I only wanted to have a cousins and to get to know Mimi’s family yet this is what happened…
 
Bumuntong-hininga na lang ako ng marating ko ang tapat ng office ni Mimi and I was about to knock on the door when someone stopped me by holding my wrist and I slightly flinch. I look who it was and I saw that it was none other than the headmaster. “H-Headmaster…” naiwika ko na lamang bago namin hinarap ang isa’t isa.
 
He look strict now while looking at me. Binitawan niya ang kamay ko bago tumingin ng mabilis sa pinto ng office ni  Mimi bago binalik ang tingin sa akin. “Your mother is busy right now. You should go back later,” he said and he’s serious that it can convince me.
 
I furrowed at him before looking at Mimi’s office. “Gano’n po ba? What time is she free, headmaster?” I look at the headmaster when he sighs.
 
“I don’t know, my dear.”
 
I sighed before shaking my head. “Pwede pong pakibigay ito sa kanila ni Nana? That’s their favorite—carbonara and lasagna,” magalang kong wika bago ngumiti kay headmaster na kinuha ang inabot ko sa kaniyang paper bag na naglalaman ng mga binanggit kong pagkain.
 
“No problem, dear. I will give this to them later,” he said before he smiled lightly at me.
 
“Thank you po.”
 
I hope Mimi is okay…
 
Naglakad na ako papalayo hanggang sa mapansin kong nagkagugulo na naman ang mga estudyante, most especially the ladies, of course. But I just remembered the celebration tomorrow and it will celebrate in one of the palaces ngunit hindi ko lang alam kung saang palasyo ‘yon.
 
Nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglalakad ng may marinig akong boses na tumawag sa akin kaya napahinto ako at nilingon kung sino ito. Then I saw Azriel is running towards me that’s why I waited him. I noticed his wide smile while looking at me and I laugh a bit when I saw him.
 
Saan kaya ‘to galing?
 
When he reached my direction, he suddenly hugged me tightly that I already expected and I hugged him back. Pansin ko namang walang estudyante sa part na ‘to bukod sa amin since medyo malapit pa ito sa headmistress’ office pero sapat ng marinig ang ingay ng mga estudyante dito dahil kumpulan rin sila.
 
“I missed you!” Wika nito na parang hindi naman kami nagkikita pero hindi naman kami nakakapag-usap. The last we talked was in ranking pero hindi naman ‘yon nagtagal.
 
Natawa naman ako dahil sa sinabi niya bago humiwalay sa kaniya. “How are you?” I asked as he messed my hair.
 
The thing that he usually does.
 
“Never been better. How ‘bout you?” Nakangiti niyang tanong.
 
“I’m okay… I guess,” maikli kong sagot at napansin ko na lang na nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi niya at dahil ‘yon sa narinig niya mula sa akin.
 
“I know what’s happening to you these past few weeks and I just want to punch those Watson brothers for making you feel like this,” nakasimangot nitong wika na ikinangiti ko naman.
 
Azriel is just like my older brother and I’m telling you, he’s so protective. Naalala ko no’ng napagkakamalan kaming mag-boyfriend at girlfriend tuwing magkasama kami but we are just ignoring them until we get used to it. He is my boy best friend, slash, brother that I never had.
 
“No, it’s okay. I can understand them,” saad ko at huminga ng malalim bago nagpatuloy sa paglalakad kaya sumunod naman siya.
 
“The reason why we have to protect you…” rinig kong saad niya na ikinatawa ko.
 
When my eyes look at him, I saw that he became serious now but when he looked at me again, his face softened which made me shake my head secretly. Ang bilis talagang magbago ng ekspresyon ng lalaking ito and I am used to him already.
 
“I will talk to my mother,” saad niya bigla kaya agad ko siyang hinarap at pinanlakihan ng mga mata.
 
“Don’t do that! Baka naman magalit sa ‘yo ang mommy mo sa gagawin mo!” Pagpigil ko sa kaniya pero ngumiti lamang siya sa akin at muling ginulo ang buhok ko habang nakahinto na kami ngayon.
 
“Lars, Tita Jade don’t deserve to be treated like that and I know, hindi ko dapat pinakikialaman ang problema nila but I have enough reason to talk to my mother. Just trust me, okay?” Malawak ang ngiting pinakawalan niya na lalo niyang ikinagwapo.
 
I know this guy and he’s unstoppable when he has his reason and when he knows that he is reasonable. Ayokong makipagtalo sa kaniya dahil nakikita kong determinado na siya kaya wala na akong nagawa pa at napatango na lamang.
 
“Fine,” pagsuko ko na ikinasaya niya.
 
“I’ll go now. Take care! See you around!” Then he kissed me on my forehead before running away and leaving me alone in this hallway.
 
Napailing na lang ako hanggang sa maramdaman ko na lang na parang may nakatingin sa akin ng masama at ikinabilis rin iyon ng puso ko. Kinalma ko naman ang sarili ko at umuwi na lang sa dorm. I already miss my son that becoming more clingy to me but he’s too smart that he can understand me when I needed to go out without bringing him with me. I just ignore what I am feeling right now and I just continued walking.
 
Nakayuko naman akong naglalakad pero maya-maya pa ay naramdaman ko na lang na nauntog ako sa isang matigas na dibdib—yes, dibdib dahil amoy na amoy ko ang pabangong gamit ng kung sino man ito pero parang pamilyar ang amoy nito kaya kaagad kong inangat ang ulo ko at natigilan na lang ako ng makita ang prinsepe ng apoy na nakatingin sa akin ng seryoso.
 
And when I was about to act like I’m hurt again, he stopped my right hand by holding my wrist. “Cut the crap. You’re not even hurt anyway so don’t act like one,” masungit na saad niya at pansin ko pang tila iritado siya kaya napairap na lang ako sa kaniya at inagaw na lang ang kamay ko na hawak niya.
 
He’s the reason why I hit his chest then he will act like this? Hmp! Who is he again?!
 
Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at balak ko na sana siyang lagpasan ng pigilan niya ako sa paglalakad sa pamamagitan ng pagpulupot niya ng kaliwa niyang kamay sa bewang ko na ikinatigil ko. Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko at mas lalo ring tumibok ng mabilis ang puso ko ng dahil sa ginawa niya.
 
Here we go again, feeling his warmth that my system has been looking for…
 
I didn’t move because I froze when he did that! I didn’t expect that! I didn’t expect him to do that! I’m still frozen in place when I felt him caress the back of my waist making my eyes wide open. Napaawang rin ang labi ko dahil sa kaniyang ginawa at hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. I should push him!
 
“Your waist is way too small,” hindi ko alam kung compliment ba ‘yon o pang-iinsulto pero alam kong nakangisi ito at ramdam ko rin ang lapit ng bibig niya sa tenga ko ngayon.
 
Bumuntong-hininga muna ako bago buong tapang na tinanggal ang kamay niyang nakapulupot sa bewang ko at tumingin sa kaniya ng nakataas ang kilay and yes, he is smirking! The nerve of this guy! Sana pala binugbog ko na siya no’ng ranking, eh! Pagkakataon ko na ‘yon! Sayang!
 
“Well, my waist have nothing to do with you,” masungit kong sagot habang nakataas pa rin ang isang kilay.
 
Ngumisi naman siya lalo at inilapit ang mukha sa mukha ko kaya bahagya akong napalayo sa kaniya. Then I noticed how his face became serious and talked using his very cold and bone-chilling voice that made my knees trembled a bit.
 
“He kissed you here…” tila nanggigigil niyang wika before his eyes darted on my forehead as his thumb caress my forehead softly—kung saan mismo dumapo ang labi ni Azriel.
 
Ang kabang nararamdaman ko ay nahaluan ng pagtataka dahil sa kinikilos niya ngayon. Ang hirap talagang basahin ng lalaking ‘to! At saka, hindi ko siya ma-gets! Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit ako nito nilalapitan at kinakausap, eh! Ngunit kung hindi niya naman ginawa ‘yon, paniguradong hindi mangyayari ang pinaka-masayang gabi sa buhay ko…
 
Aiden… is the guy that every time I look into his eyes, I always find myself being lost in their depths. Every time he’s near, my system is in chaos and it misses his warmth—I am missing his warmth. The way my heart reacts every time I know he is near—what is this feeling?
 
He is just staring at me until his both hands reached my elbows as he looked at there with his ranging eyes. “And he hugged you…” mahina nitong saad na tila kinakausap niya lang ang kaniyang sarili ngunit ramdam ko ang galit. Hindi rin ako makagalaw ng dahil sa ginawa niya at nanatiling nakatitig sa kaniyang mukha.
 
While looking into his eyes, I just saw something from his blue orbs that leave me more confused and made me wonder why I saw those emotions in his eyes. My heart is also racing fast and I do not know the reason why—that’s because of him. Ramdam ko na naman ang pamilyar na kuryente ng magtama ang balat namin. Then his sharp eyes looked into my confused eyes as he said those words that leave my lips hanged open.
 
“Stay. Fucking. Away. From. Him,” he said and now, I can see that he’s already mad as he left me wondering why.
 
What just happened?!
 
Napahawak nalang ako sa dibdib ko at pinakiramdaman ang pagtibok nito ng mabilis at dahil ‘yon sa lalaking ‘yon. Napailing na lang ako dahil sa mga katanungang naglalaro sa isipan ko, but one thing is for sure… this feeling is new to me, at hindi ko alam kung gugustuhin ko ba ito o hindi.
 
What do you really want from me, prince of fire…?
 
Huminga na lang ako ng malalim at lutang na bumalik sa kwarto namin. Pagkadating ko sa kwarto namin ay kaagad na nagpakarga sa akin si Caelum at nanlalambing kaya kahit na puno ng katanungan ang isipan ko ay nawala na lang ‘yon dahil sa anak ko. Bumuntong-hininga na lang ako at iniwaksi na lang ang kung anong iniisip ko.
 
You really never failed to turn my head into turmoil, prince of fire…
 
***
 
Azriel Henritte Williams
 
As I walk to the one of the hallways of the academy, I just can’t help but smirk because of what just happened earlier. Alam kong kanina pa niya sinusundan si Lara pero hindi lang siya makatiyempo sa paglapit sa kaniya kaya inunahan ko na siya.
 
Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako pero napatigil rin ng may bigla na lang may malakas na bumangga sa kaliwang balikat ko kaya napahinto ako at tumingin sa lalaking nakatalikod lang sa akin ngayon at nakahinto na rin katulad ko.
 
Napangisi naman ako ng palihim ng maalala ko ang nangyari kanina. Kanina ko pa nararamdaman ang masamang tingin niya pero hindi ako nagpa-apekto. Isa rin siya sa mga hindi pwedeng galitin dahil panganib ang ibig sabihin no’n. But yeah, Prince Aiden Axel Smith just found interested at one of the princesses—Princess Hope Lorelei Lara Sapphire Watson.
 
“What did I told you before, Williams?” Seryoso niyang tanong at aaminin ko, nagdala ‘yon ng kaba sa kaloob-looban ko but I remained on my position and composed myself.
 
Alalang-alala ko pa kung paano niya ako bantaan na layuan si Lara but he won’t stop me from nearing her. She’s my best friend that like a sister and she’s special to me! Gusto kong magalit pero parang gusto kong pagtripan ang prinsepe na ‘to because I find it amusing! Nawala na nga ako lahat-lahat pero hindi pa rin siya nagbabago.
 
I also remembered when the demon entered the academy and I carried Lara that time but I could feel this prince’s stare until he warned me first but when we fetched the sorceress and I went beside Lara, that’s when he snapped. Binugbog niya ako but I was smirking because I find it amusing. My twin have to heal me so that I could immediately recover para walang makapansin ng kabaliwan ng prinsepe na ‘yan.
 
Now, I can see the changes in him and the reason is my best friend, Lara. Alam ko rin na hindi lang ako ang binantaan niya dahil marami-rami rin kami. Hindi ko lang alam kung makabubuti ba siya kay Lara o hindi, but if he will be the reason of her tears, I swear, I will kill him even if it will cost my own life.
 
Lara is my little sister to me after all…
 
And about the brothers, parang gusto ko na lang silang katayin dahil sa pinaparamdam nila kay Lara and I know Lara felt upset right now. Sino nga ba’ng hindi, ‘di ba? She’s super excited to meet her cousins—kahit hindi pa siya sigurado kung may iba pa ba siyang pinsan—but it just shattered when she learned about the truth and those motherfuckers have no plan on welcoming her to their life.
 
“Relax, Smith. We’re just best friends,” sagot ko pero naramdaman ko na lang na nagpakawala siya ng isang nakakikilabot na aura and I know, I’m reaching his limits now.
 
Masama ‘to…
 
Hindi pa nga sila, nambabakod na! Paano na lang kaya kung sila na? Baka sakalin niya ang Lara ko! Baka masapak ko ang isang ‘to kapag nangyari ‘yon!
 
“Know your place, Williams,” napataas na lang ang kilay ko ng dahil sa sinabi niya kaya hindi ko na napigilan pa ang sarili ko.
 
“Who are you to tell me that?” Parang nanghahamon kong tanong sa kaniya na ikinalingon niya sa akin at napansin ko ang pagkakangisi niya. I’m thankful that the students are busy right now, dahil kung hindi, baka nanigas na sila sa takot sa lalaking ‘to. His smirk is saying something so as his eyes and the next thing he said leave me dumbfounded.
 
“I am her soon to be boyfriend and her future husband,” nakangisi nitong wika na ikinanganga ko na lamang at hindi makapaniwalang tumingin sa kaniya.
 
Putangina! Malala ka na, pre!
 
***
 
“Kuya Logan, Lucas,” pagtawag ko sa magkapatid na nakaupo sa island counter dito sa kusina ng dorm namin. 
 
They both looked at me while frowning. I want to talk to them and I think, this is the right time. Kailangang malinawan sila at kailangan nilang malaman ang patungkol sa ginagawa nila kay Lara—well, they are just giving her a cold treatment which hurting her feelings.
 
“What is it?” Takang tanong ni Lucas kaya hindi na ako nagsayang pa ng oras at humarap sa kanilang dalawa. Na sa sala naman ang iba kaya alam kong walang iisturbo sa amin… I just hope.
 
“I’m mad at the both of you, you know that?” Saad ko gamit ang seryosong boses na ikinataas ng kilay nilang pareho.
 
“Anong nangyayari sa ‘yo?” Natatawang tanong ni Lucas but when he noticed that I’m serious, he became serious too.
 
“Spill it,” seryoso ring wika ni Kuya Logan and I can already feel the tension between me and these brothers.
 
“I’m mad at the both of you for hurting Lara’s feelings. She’s too precious for you to hurt her when in the first place, she just wants to have cousins that she can get along with,” tumigas ang itsura nila kaya hindi ko mapigilang malungkot para kay Lara. That’s why I said the words that I shouldn’t have said—but they deserve to know it. “She doesn’t deserve to get hurt… she doesn’t deserve you,” I said as I walk away and leave them dumbfounded.
 
I just wish that those words will wake them up and realized that Lara has nothing to do with their problem and I know, Tita Jade knows that Lara is not involved here and that’s the thing that she wanted to make them realize.
 
Bago pa ako tuluyang makaalis sa kusina ay nakita ko pa si Aiden na nakahilig sa hamba ng pintuan at nakatingin sa akin ng seryoso habang may hawak siyang tasa sa kanang kamay niya. And before I passed him, I just heard the words that I never expected him to say… again.
 
“She deserves me.”
 
***
 
“Damn you, Smith!” Bulong ko habang hinihintay sina mommy at daddy dito sa living room na para sa aming mga royals lang. Lahat ng palasyo mayroong royal living room.
 
I’m with my twin and she’s already looking at me weirdly pero hindi ko na lang siya pinansin pa. Hindi pa rin talaga mawala sa isipan ko ang sinabi ng lalaking ‘yon and he’s fucking serious! Hindi ko naman alam na ganito na kalala ang nararamdmaan niya kay Lara! It’s unexpected! Ewan ko kung ikasasaya ko ba ito o hindi, pero… ewan!
 
Nagpaalam ako kanina kay Tita Jade na uuwi muna kami ni kambal kaya nandito kami ngayon. I need to talk to my mother and tell them everything about what happened to me when I was gone and it has something to do with Tita Jade.
 
Hanggang sa dumating na silang pareho kaya tumayo na kami ni Rielle at niyakap silang dalawa. “What brings you both here?” Takang tanong ni daddy kaya tinuro ako ni Rielle na dahilan upang tumingin silang lahat sa akin.
 
I took a deep breath before looking at them. Hindi ko na ito patatagalin pa kaya nagsalita na ako. “I’m here to tell you everything about what happened to me before and why I’m in the mortal realm when in the first place, I should be in the rebellions’ palace—in the Dark Valley,” saad ko na ikinaseryoso nila.
 
Since I came back, they are always asking me what happened to me back then but I remained silent. Ewan ko ba. Parang ayaw ko pa no’n sabihin sa kanila ang nangyari sa akin no’n.
 
“Let’s sit,” sinunod naman namin si daddy at tatlo na silang nakaharap sa akin ngayon kaya nag-umpisa na akong magkwento.
 
“Lara was the one who saved me from the rebellions back then,” panimula ko na ikinagulat naman nila.
 
***